I was born and raised in South Charleston, West Virginia.  As a kid I loved making things with my hands and dabbled in many art forms.  I believe my early creative activities positioned me for a career as a carpenter, home builder, furniture maker and later as a painter.

Having worked as a carpenter and because I have a natural ability to understand the geometry of architecture; I know how a building is constructed.  I enjoy the challenge to faithfully render the perspective, proportion and underlying structure of the architectural scenes I paint. I have only been painting for about eight years and have had little formal training.  I believe that my building experience gives me greater insight into how to give the viewer a sense of depth.  It requires the right mix of colors, understanding how light behaves and where to use more or less detail to achieve that effect.  For me, getting there is a discovery process.  Because I am largely self-taught, I am comfortable with this approach and tend to “just do it” until I figure it out.

I paint what is interesting to me, but it’s more than that.  Having grown up in a very industrial town I am tuned into the blue collar, working class environment.  My greatest inspiration comes from this urban landscape.  As a result, much of my work is made up of the things we all miss on our way to and from the office.  My intention is portray the emotional connection I feel for these places and respect I have for this segment of society and their contributions to it.

I admire many types of architecture but I particularly respect the unpretentious, functional nature of industrial buildings.  The sometimes gritty reality of these places is familiar to me.  I see beauty in the rust and years of wear and the evidence of the people who perform the work inside.  Restaurants, grocery stores and manufacturing centers tell us a lot about who we are, where and how we live.

I’m also attracted to historic buildings especially those that are cultural landmarks in a community.  They are part of our lives’ experience and create a common bond among us.  I’m fascinated by how they have evolved over the years, reflecting changes in our collective style, social preferences and technical capabilities.  The passage of time shows in the signage, the color of the exterior paint, and conveniences like outdoor seating and customer access.

I am currently a resident of Park City, Utah.  When I'm not painting or looking for new subjects, I am outside road cycling and "dinner" hiking with friends and family.